AVA'S POV I couldn’t breathe. Every part of me froze. Laura? A murderer? It felt impossible, but the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t lying. What would he benefit from lying to me though? Nothing! I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it wouldn’t go away. “What do you mean? How did she…?” My voice trailed off. I couldn’t even finish the sentence. Alex’s face darkened, and he leaned in, his eyes cold. “As you know, Laura and my brother were married. She was cheating on him, and when he found out, he planned to divorce her. She knew once he did she wouldn't get the money she thought she deserved.” My chest tightened. I always knew Laura could be cruel, but this? This was something darker. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. “Then she did something terrible,” Alex continued, his voice filled with bitterness. “She set up a car accident to kill him. She thought if he died, she’d get the insurance money. But he didn’t die. Instead, he’s in a vegetative state now.” I gasp
ALEX'S POV I couldn't get Ava out of my head even as I walked out of her ward, the image of her sitting on the hospital bed looking pale and fragile replayed in my head causing my heart to ache. She needed to eat, especially with how much she had thrown up earlier at the restaurant so I decided to get her something to eat at the hospital cafeteria. I stared at the takeout box in my hand, I had ordered something light – a soup and some crackers, the scent of the warm food rising faintly through the packaging. Walking up to the nurse’s station, I cleared my throat. “Excuse me, Miss," I said, holding out the box. “Can you make sure Ava Campbell gets this? I was the one who brought her here. She’s in Room 203." The nurse glanced at the box, then at me, her expression softening. “Of course. I’ll deliver it right away.” “Thank you,” I said, exhaling slowly. I had received a message from my secretary earlier informing me of Jason's presence at the company, and I wondered why h
JASON’S POV I stood there frozen in place, my blood running cold. Ava... at the hospital? Why hadn't I known? The photos on my phone stared back at me. I swiped through them, my fingers trembling. They weren't just of Alex holding her in the restaurant anymore. I came across photos that were clear as day, showing Ava outside the hospital. She looked sick and vulnerable. I stared at the pictures, my throat tightening and my chest felt like it was being twisted by a knife. How had I missed this? I hadn’t even noticed these photos when they came through earlier. All I had seen was the one of Alex holding her. That’s what made my blood boil. The sight of them together being that close had triggered something deep inside me. That’s when I stormed out to confront Alex. I had been so fixated on Alex, so consumed with jealousy and anger, that I didn’t even notice the bigger picture. Ava was in pain, and I wasn’t there for her. What kind of husband am I? I called the per
JASON'S POV I stared at the divorce papers, my chest feeling heavy. Ava wanted to end it. My mind was blank, and I couldn’t think straight. How did it get this bad? How did I let her slip away? The buzzing of my phone broke the silence, but I didn’t grab it right away. It buzzed again, snapping me out of my thoughts. I checked the screen –it was Laura. I groaned, frustrated. “What now?” I muttered before answering. “Jason, you need to come to the office right now,” Laura said. She sounded serious. “What’s wrong?” I asked sharply. “There’s an emergency. I can’t explain everything on the phone, but it’s bad. You need to get here fast,” she said. I sighed, rubbing my face. I didn’t trust her, not after all the trouble she caused at Alex's jewelry launch, but if it was important for the company, I had no choice. “Fine, I’ll be there,” I said and hung up. On the way, my thoughts kept drifting back to Ava. The divorce papers were burned into my mind but what stayed with me more w
LAURA'S POV The office fell silent immediately Jason left, and I sat behind his desk, staring at his laptop. His cold rejection stung more than I cared to admit. Jason was once head over heels for me but now he was rejecting me. I clenched my fists, my acrylic nails digging into my palms. "It’s all Ava’s fault," I muttered. She was the reason Jason couldn’t see what was right in front of him. She was the reason he kept rejecting me. I took in a sharp breath, then opened my email on my phone and scrolled through the messages. My heart raced as I found the one from Dr. Samuel Croft, dated a week ago. Clicking it open, I scanned the attached report for what felt like the hundredth time. Ava Campbell – Pregnancy Confirmation. The words were like a slap to my face, each letter mocking me. I had gone through this email when Samuel first sent it a week ago but reading it again felt just as painful as the first time. “She thinks she’s won,” I said bitterly, my voice echoin
LAURA'S POV The sound of the door opening made me look up, I was expecting to see Jason, but it wasn’t him. It was his grandfather - Grandpa Campbell. He stood tall, his sharp eyes sweeping the room like he owned it. Actually he once did. I forced a polite smile, though my chest tightened. He hadn’t stepped into the company in years according to Jason, but his presence still carried weight. I wondered why he was here. But there's only one way to find out. “Good morning, Mr. Campbell,” I greeted, standing from Jason's chair. “Jason isn’t here at the moment. Can I help you with anything?” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his piercing gaze landed on me, and his lips curved into a thin line. I knew that look – it was one of judgment. “Laura,” he said, his voice was cold. “Still lingering around, I see.” I swallowed the sting of his words and kept my expression calm. “I’ve been doing everything I can to support Jason and the company, sir.” He stepped further into the
AVA'S POV I was deep in thought reflecting on what my plan would be next and how I was going to raise my unborn child alone once Jason signed the divorce paper when the phone in my hand buzzed, the sharp vibration sending a jolt through me. I glanced at it, and Jason’s name flashed on the screen and my stomach churned and chest tightened. Why was he calling me? I hesitated for a moment but then it crossed my mind that maybe he was calling to let me know that he had already signed the divorce papers. The thought of it sent a sharp ache through my chest. The moment I answered, his voice came through shaky and raw. And I knew immediately something was wrong. “Grandpa’s been rushed to the hospital,” he said, his words tumbling over one another. “What happened?” I asked, gripping the phone tightly, my heart racing. “They’re not sure yet,” he replied. “Ava, please I really need you... here." Without hesitation, I grabbed my bag and was about to rush out of the house, when
JASON'S POVI sat in the chair by Grandpa’s bed, staring at his frail form. The beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the dimly lit hospital room. His usually sharp and commanding presence seemed so far away now. Seeing him like this sent a pang of guilt through my chest. What had caused this? He was healthy the last time I spoke to him – stubborn as always, but fine. Something had triggered this collapse, and I needed to know what. I ran a hand through my hair, my head in a mess. Memories of Grandpa mentoring me, scolding me, and pushing me to be better played in my head like an old film. Shaking off the thought, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the company security app. I hadn’t planned on looking at the CCTV footage, but something nagged at me. Grandpa had been in my office before the collapse. Maybe the cameras would show what had happened. I found the footage and clicked play. The small screen showed Grandpa walking into my office with his usua
AVA’S POVThe guy bent down and picked up my purse before I could even react. His hand brushed mine as he handed it to me, and when I looked up, I froze for half a second. He was… strikingly handsome. Clean-cut, fresh face, probably just out of college or something. Definitely younger. Way younger. “Sorry about that,” I said quickly, my face warming a little. I was used to strikingly good-looking guys like Jason and Alex, but there was something different about his young blood charm. And he scented heavenly. “No problem,” he smiled. “Are you okay?” “Yeah. Thanks,” I said, brushing imaginary dust off my bag. He nodded politely and walked off, and I stood there for a second, wondering if I’d imagined the whole thing. I hadn’t. But the moment passed, and I turned around and headed back to our table. Sally had already finished eating or at least she’d stopped trying to stuff her face with food. “You good?” she asked, eyebrows raised. “Yeah. Just bumped into someone,” I r
AVA’S POV I looked away the moment Alex stood up and began walking toward us, after saying a few words to the woman he was dining with probably asking her to excuse him for a moment. Sally had just taken another bite of her food when she noticed the change in my expression. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. She had been my friend for so long that she could read me like the back of her hand. So she could easily know when something was off with me. A few seconds later, Alex was at our table. “Hey ladies,” he said, his voice even, but his eyes flickered from me to Sally and back again. “Didn’t expect to see you both here.” I gave him a polite smile. “You too.” "I can see you're here with a lady," Sally winked at him. Alex cleared his throat slightly. "It's not what you think Sally. And yes, I’m here with a friend,” he said. “She just got back into the country. So I decided to give her a treat." I nodded once. “That’s nice.” His eyes remained on me for a second long
AVA'S POVI slept better last night than I have in some days. Not the kind of restless sleep I’d been getting lately, where I wake up halfway through the night and stare at the ceiling, wondering what else could go wrong. No. This was a real sleep. The kind where your body finally gives in. The kind where, for a few hours, your brain stops fighting you. It wasn’t until I heard the soft patter of feet and a little voice say, “Aunty?” that I finally stirred. I opened my eyes and saw Emma standing at the edge of my bed, holding her little stuffed bunny by one ear. Her hair was messy, her face still puffy from sleep. “I didn’t see you all day yesterday,” she said quietly, her bottom lip poking out. God. My heart squeezed. I had left early yesterday and came home late last night tired. I sat up and reached for her. “I know, baby. I’m so sorry. Come here.” She climbed into my arms without hesitation and buried her face into my neck. Just that one sentence – just those few w
LAURA’S POVI slammed the front door so hard the wall shook. “That bitch,” I muttered under my breath, heels clicking across the marble. “That goddamn bitch.”Steph walked in behind me, quiet like always. We had just come back from the red carpet. She didn’t say anything. She knew better than to speak when I was like this. My blood was boiling. I had sent Sienna a dress I spent weeks working on. Weeks. Custom fabric, hand-beading, fittings, last-minute changes. I even kissed her assistant’s ass — that guy practically controls who gets near her, all just to make sure Sienna Rae would consider wearing it. And what did that ungrateful dog do? Absolutely nothing. And Sienna showed up in Ava’s damn dress.Why Ava design? The one woman I didn’t want to see win. Not tonight. Not ever again. But once again… she won. I kicked off my heels and flung my clutch across the room. It hit the wall with a thud and dropped onto the floor. Not satisfying enough. I grabbed the lamp from the side t
AVA’S POV I heard Sally gasp. It wasn’t loud, but I felt it more than I heard it. I turned my head slightly. She had her phone in her hand, her eyes wide. Her lips were parted like she was about to say something but couldn’t get it out. “What?” I whispered, barely moving my lips. The cameras were still rolling. She leaned in a little like she was afraid to say it too loud. “Sienna Rae… she’s wearing it,” Sally mouthed. “She’s wearing your dress.” “What?” I blinked. I wasn’t sure I read her lips right. But then Kara looked up too, and someone behind the camera shouted something. Everyone turned to the screen. I followed their gaze — and there she was. Sienna Rae. Walking out of a black car, all eyes on her. Flashing lights, fans screaming. And she was wearing my design. Kara leaned toward her mic and said quickly, “This was earlier tonight — footage just came in from the red carpet.” I swear, my heart stopped. I didn’t even breathe. My mind went blank. It was sur
AVA'S POVThe lights were hot. Too hot. I could feel sweat gathering at the back of my neck, even though the room was cold. My hands were folded tightly in my lap, and my smile felt stiff. Kara gave a soft smile to the camera and spoke in that practiced voice that sounded both kind and sharp. “Today we have an exclusive sit-down with Ava Taylor, an impressive designer and founder of Avaris Luxe, a company that recently entered the American market. A woman who’s been praised for her talent… and lately, dragged into the headlines for everything but her work.” I knew what was coming. Still, I nodded politely and waited. No time wasted. Kara turned to me. “Ava, thank you for joining us.” “Thanks for having me,” I said, trying to sound normal. She leaned in just a little, her voice low now. “Let’s talk about the rumors.” And there it was. I blinked. “Which one?” I asked with a half-smile, trying to keep it light. But my chest was already tight. Kara chuckled, but her e
AVA'S POV I woke up before my alarm, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. My head felt heavy like it had been stuffed with cotton. Last night kept replaying in my mind — Alex’s question, Jason’s kiss, the phone call from Sally, and that headline flashing across my screen like a punch to the gut. I didn’t know which part hurt more. The fact that I couldn’t give Alex an answer… or the fact that everything I built was crumbling in front of me. I didn’t even want to get out of bed. But I had to. I pushed the covers off and sat up slowly. My chest felt tight again. I hated waking up like this — with that weight pressing down on me before the day even started. I forced myself up from the bed, dragging my feet to the bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and barely recognized myself. My eyes were puffy, my skin pale. I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would help me feel human again. It didn’t. After bathing, I hurriedly got ready for work. I tried to eat
ALEX'S POV The drive home felt longer than it would have been. I kept one hand on the wheel, the other clenched against my thigh. The city lights blurred past the window, but I barely saw any of it. My mind was still back at Ava’s place – still stuck on the way she looked at me. Or rather… the way she didn’t. She hadn’t said no. But she hadn’t said yes either. Her silence had been louder than anything. And I’d seen the way her hand trembled when that call from Jason came through. She said she was done with him. She’s said it more than twice. But I couldn’t believe her anymore – not fully. If she truly wanted nothing to do with him… she would’ve blocked his number. Deleted it. But no, the name still popped up. Jason. Saved. Still there. Still reachable. It stung more than I wanted to admit. I pulled into the underground parking lot of my building, sighing as I turned off the engine. My chest felt tight like I’d been holding my breath for hours. Maybe I had. I didn’t kno
AVA'S POV I blinked. “A… date?” The word hung in the air like something too fragile to touch. We’d had lunch together. Dinners, coffees, runs, late-night drives. But it was always casual, and friendly. Nothing was ever labeled. Never a “date.” And yet here he was – Alex standing near my window with that serious, steady look on his face, asking me out like it meant something real. I didn’t know what to say. Alex was the kind of guy most women would call a dream. Handsome, wealthy, stable. The way he carried himself, the way he treated me – with respect, kindness, patience. I never had to worry about him stepping over lines or making me feel small. He wasn’t like Jason. Not at all. But I’d never pictured us dating. Not because I wasn’t attracted to him – I was. There were moments, late at night, when I’d catch myself thinking about how safe I felt around him… how his voice calmed my nerves. But love? Did I love him? Did I even know what love was anymore? The silence betwe